diff --git a/Documentation/stg.txt b/Documentation/stg.txt
index 04de2067..209187f3 100644
--- a/Documentation/stg.txt
+++ b/Documentation/stg.txt
@@ -307,6 +307,18 @@ stgit.import.message-id::
   When set to 'true', create 'Message-ID:' trailer in the patch description of patches
   imported from email using linkstg:import[].
 
+stgit.infer-commands::
+  When set to 'true', StGit commands and aliases may be invoked using any unambiguous
+  prefix of their names. For example, `stg ser` runs `stg series`. Exact command and
+  alias names always take precedence over prefixes. Prefixes are not accepted in alias
+  definitions; aliases must name their StGit command exactly. Defaults to 'false'.
++
+N.B. whether a prefix is unambiguous depends on the set of defined aliases as well as
+the set of StGit commands. Defining a new alias, or upgrading to a version of StGit with
+new commands, may cause a previously unambiguous prefix to become ambiguous. Explicit
+aliases (see 'stgit.alias.*') are a more stable alternative for abbreviating commonly
+used commands.
+
 stgit.keepoptimized::
   When set to 'true', after pulling changes with linkstg:pull[], the repository's object
   database will be optimized by running linkgit:git-repack[1].
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 7071d8a2..ef19e487 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -140,6 +140,50 @@ pub(crate) fn get_full_command(
         .subcommands(aliases.values().map(alias::Alias::make))
 }
 
+enum Subcommand<'a> {
+    Command(&'static cmd::StGitCommand),
+    Alias(&'a alias::Alias),
+    Help,
+}
+
+/// Find a command, alias, or `"help"` matching `sub_name` exactly or, when
+/// `infer_commands` is enabled, as an unambiguous prefix.
+fn find_subcommand<'a>(
+    sub_name: &str,
+    aliases: &'a alias::Aliases,
+    infer_commands: bool,
+) -> Option<Subcommand<'a>> {
+    if let Some(command) = STGIT_COMMANDS
+        .iter()
+        .find(|command| command.name == sub_name)
+    {
+        return Some(Subcommand::Command(command));
+    } else if sub_name == "help" {
+        return Some(Subcommand::Help);
+    } else if let Some(alias) = aliases.get(sub_name) {
+        return Some(Subcommand::Alias(alias));
+    } else if !infer_commands {
+        return None;
+    }
+
+    let mut candidates = STGIT_COMMANDS
+        .iter()
+        .filter(|command| command.name.starts_with(sub_name))
+        .map(Subcommand::Command)
+        .chain(
+            aliases
+                .values()
+                .filter(|alias| alias.name.starts_with(sub_name))
+                .map(Subcommand::Alias),
+        )
+        .chain("help".starts_with(sub_name).then_some(Subcommand::Help));
+
+    match (candidates.next(), candidates.next()) {
+        (Some(subcommand), None) => Some(subcommand),
+        _ => None,
+    }
+}
+
 /// Main entry point for `stg` executable.
 ///
 /// The name of the game is to dispatch to the appropriate subcommand or alias as
@@ -169,6 +213,7 @@ fn main() -> ! {
                 &self::cmd::version::STGIT_COMMAND,
                 vec![argv[0].clone(), OsString::from("version")],
                 color_choice,
+                Some(false),
             )
         } else if let Err(e) = change_directories(&matches) {
             exit_with_result(Err(e), color_choice)
@@ -182,21 +227,33 @@ fn main() -> ! {
                 .iter()
                 .find(|command| command.name == sub_name)
             {
-                execute_command(command, argv, color_choice)
+                execute_command(command, argv, color_choice, None)
             } else {
                 // If the subcommand name does not match a builtin subcommand, the
                 // aliases are located, which involves finding the Git repo and parsing
                 // the various levels of config files. If the subcommand name matches an
-                // alias, it is executed and the cost of constructing all subcommands'
-                // Command instances is still avoided.
-                match get_aliases() {
+                // alias, or an unambiguous prefix of a subcommand or alias when
+                // stgit.infer-commands is enabled, it is executed and the cost of
+                // constructing all subcommands' Command instances is still avoided.
+                match get_dispatch_config() {
                     Err(e) => exit_with_result(Err(e), color_choice),
-                    Ok((aliases, maybe_repo)) => {
-                        if let Some(alias) = aliases.get(sub_name) {
+                    Ok(DispatchConfig {
+                        aliases,
+                        infer_commands,
+                        repo: maybe_repo,
+                    }) => match find_subcommand(sub_name, &aliases, infer_commands) {
+                        Some(Subcommand::Command(command)) => {
+                            // An inferred command name is spelled out so that clap
+                            // need not infer it. Clap's inference would otherwise also
+                            // apply to all nested subcommands.
+                            let mut argv = argv;
+                            spell_out_subcommand(&mut argv, sub_matches, command.name);
+                            execute_command(command, argv, color_choice, Some(infer_commands))
+                        }
+                        Some(Subcommand::Alias(alias)) => {
                             let user_args: Vec<OsString> = sub_matches
                                 .get_many::<OsString>("")
                                 .map_or_else(Vec::new, |vals| vals.cloned().collect());
-
                             match alias.kind {
                                 alias::AliasKind::Shell => execute_shell_alias(
                                     alias,
@@ -210,9 +267,18 @@ fn main() -> ! {
                                     user_args,
                                     color_choice,
                                     &aliases,
+                                    infer_commands,
                                 ),
                             }
-                        } else {
+                        }
+                        Some(Subcommand::Help) => {
+                            // An inferred "help" is spelled out since the full Command
+                            // does not infer subcommand names.
+                            let mut argv = argv;
+                            spell_out_subcommand(&mut argv, sub_matches, "help");
+                            full_app_help(argv, Some(aliases), color_choice)
+                        }
+                        None => {
                             // If no command or alias matches can be determined from the
                             // above process, then a complete clap::Command instance is
                             // constructed with all subcommand Command instances for
@@ -221,7 +287,7 @@ fn main() -> ! {
                             // expected to terminate with an appropriate help message.
                             full_app_help(argv, Some(aliases), color_choice)
                         }
-                    }
+                    },
                 }
             }
         } else {
@@ -234,6 +300,18 @@ fn main() -> ! {
     }
 }
 
+/// Replace the (possibly abbreviated) external subcommand name in `argv` with `name`.
+///
+/// The bootstrap Command treats everything after the subcommand name as the external
+/// subcommand's arguments, so the name immediately precedes those arguments.
+fn spell_out_subcommand(argv: &mut [OsString], sub_matches: &ArgMatches, name: &str) {
+    let num_args = sub_matches
+        .get_many::<OsString>("")
+        .map_or(0, |vals| vals.len());
+    let index = argv.len() - 1 - num_args;
+    argv[index] = OsString::from(name);
+}
+
 /// Exit the program based on the provided [`Result`].
 ///
 /// Error results from conflicts trigger merge conflicts to be printed and an exit code
@@ -298,6 +376,10 @@ fn change_directories(matches: &ArgMatches) -> Result<()> {
 /// that `argv` was previously determined to be invalid. The full command can then
 /// output a help message with a complete view of all subcommands and aliases, and then
 /// terminate to process.
+///
+/// Subcommand names are not inferred; any inferred name must already be spelled out in
+/// `argv`. This ensures clap does not find a viable match where [`find_subcommand()`]
+/// did not.
 fn full_app_help(
     argv: Vec<OsString>,
     aliases: Option<alias::Aliases>,
@@ -389,13 +471,36 @@ fn full_app_help(
 ///
 /// N.B. a new top-level app instance is created to ensure that help messages are
 /// formatted using the correct executable path (from `argv[0]`).
+///
+/// `infer_commands` determines whether nested subcommands may be abbreviated; the
+/// subcommand name in `argv` must be exact. When `None`, the configuration is only
+/// consulted if the subcommand has nested subcommands that may be abbreviated.
+///
+/// Nested subcommands spelled like long options, e.g. `stg branch --list`, are never
+/// abbreviated.
 fn execute_command(
     command: &cmd::StGitCommand,
     argv: Vec<OsString>,
     color_choice: Option<termcolor::ColorChoice>,
+    infer_commands: Option<bool>,
 ) -> ! {
+    let subcommand = (command.make)();
+    let has_inferable_subcommands = subcommand.has_subcommands()
+        && !subcommand
+            .get_subcommands()
+            .any(|nested| nested.get_name().starts_with('-'));
+    let infer_commands = has_inferable_subcommands
+        && match infer_commands {
+            Some(infer_commands) => infer_commands,
+            None => match get_dispatch_config() {
+                Ok(config) => config.infer_commands,
+                Err(e) => exit_with_result(Err(e), color_choice),
+            },
+        };
+
     match get_base_command(color_choice)
-        .subcommand((command.make)())
+        .infer_subcommands(infer_commands)
+        .subcommand(subcommand)
         .try_get_matches_from(argv)
     {
         Ok(top_matches) => {
@@ -475,12 +580,18 @@ fn execute_shell_alias(
 /// Execute alias to StGit command.
 ///
 /// Recursive aliases are detected.
+///
+/// The alias must name its StGit command exactly, regardless of `infer_commands`, so
+/// that the meaning of a configured alias cannot change as commands or other aliases
+/// are added. `infer_commands` still applies to any nested subcommand since it may come
+/// from the user's arguments.
 fn execute_stgit_alias(
     alias: &alias::Alias,
     exec_path: &OsString,
     user_args: Vec<OsString>,
     color_choice: Option<termcolor::ColorChoice>,
     aliases: &alias::Aliases,
+    infer_commands: bool,
 ) -> ! {
     let result = match alias.split() {
         Ok(alias_args) => {
@@ -502,18 +613,15 @@ fn execute_stgit_alias(
                 .expect("empty aliases are filtered in get_aliases()")
                 .as_str();
 
-            if let Some(command) = STGIT_COMMANDS
-                .iter()
-                .find(|command| command.name == resolved_cmd_name)
-            {
-                execute_command(command, argv, color_choice)
-            } else if aliases.contains_key(resolved_cmd_name) {
-                Err(anyhow!("recursive alias `{}`", alias.name))
-            } else {
-                Err(anyhow!(
+            match find_subcommand(resolved_cmd_name, aliases, false) {
+                Some(Subcommand::Command(command)) => {
+                    execute_command(command, argv, color_choice, Some(infer_commands))
+                }
+                Some(Subcommand::Alias(_)) => Err(anyhow!("recursive alias `{}`", alias.name)),
+                Some(Subcommand::Help) | None => Err(anyhow!(
                     "bad alias for `{}`: `{resolved_cmd_name}` is not a stg command",
                     alias.name,
-                ))
+                )),
             }
         }
         Err(reason) => Err(anyhow!("bad alias for `{}`: {reason}", alias.name)),
@@ -522,6 +630,15 @@ fn execute_stgit_alias(
     exit_with_result(result, color_choice)
 }
 
+/// Configuration affecting how subcommands and aliases are dispatched.
+struct DispatchConfig {
+    aliases: alias::Aliases,
+    /// Whether unambiguous prefixes of subcommand and alias names are accepted
+    /// (`stgit.infer-commands`).
+    infer_commands: bool,
+    repo: Option<gix::Repository>,
+}
+
 /// Get aliases mapping.
 ///
 /// Since aliases are defined in git config files, an attempt is made to open a repo so
@@ -531,6 +648,14 @@ fn execute_stgit_alias(
 /// N.B. the outcome of this alias search depends on the current directory and thus
 /// depends on -C options having been previously processed.
 pub(crate) fn get_aliases() -> Result<(alias::Aliases, Option<gix::Repository>)> {
+    let DispatchConfig { aliases, repo, .. } = get_dispatch_config()?;
+    Ok((aliases, repo))
+}
+
+/// Get aliases and other dispatch-related configuration.
+///
+/// See [`get_aliases()`] regarding how the configuration is located.
+fn get_dispatch_config() -> Result<DispatchConfig> {
     let maybe_repo = gix::Repository::open().ok();
     let maybe_config = maybe_repo.as_ref().map(|repo| repo.config_snapshot());
     let config_file = maybe_config.as_ref().map(|snapshot| snapshot.plumbing());
@@ -544,7 +669,17 @@ pub(crate) fn get_aliases() -> Result<(alias::Aliases, Option<gix::Repository>)>
     let aliases = alias::get_aliases(config_file, |name| {
         STGIT_COMMANDS.iter().any(|command| command.name == name) || name == "help"
     })?;
-    Ok((aliases, maybe_repo))
+    let infer_commands = config_file
+        .map_or(Ok(None), |config_file| {
+            config_file.boolean("stgit.infer-commands")
+        })
+        .map_err(|e| anyhow!("invalid config value `stgit.infer-commands`: {e}"))?
+        .unwrap_or(false);
+    Ok(DispatchConfig {
+        aliases,
+        infer_commands,
+        repo: maybe_repo,
+    })
 }
 
 /// Print user-facing message to stderr.
@@ -643,3 +778,79 @@ fn print_merge_conflicts() {
     };
     stupid.status_short(Some(pathspecs)).unwrap_or_default();
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn subcommand_shorthand_resolution() {
+        let mut aliases = alias::get_default_aliases();
+        assert!(find_subcommand("del", &aliases, false).is_none());
+        assert!(find_subcommand("st", &aliases, false).is_none());
+        assert!(find_subcommand("he", &aliases, false).is_none());
+        assert!(matches!(
+            find_subcommand("delete", &aliases, false),
+            Some(Subcommand::Command(cmd)) if cmd.name == "delete"
+        ));
+        assert!(matches!(
+            find_subcommand("status", &aliases, false),
+            Some(Subcommand::Alias(alias)) if alias.name == "status"
+        ));
+        assert!(matches!(
+            find_subcommand("help", &aliases, false),
+            Some(Subcommand::Help)
+        ));
+
+        assert!(matches!(
+            find_subcommand("del", &aliases, true),
+            Some(Subcommand::Command(cmd)) if cmd.name == "delete"
+        ));
+        assert!(matches!(
+            find_subcommand("de", &aliases, true),
+            Some(Subcommand::Command(cmd)) if cmd.name == "delete"
+        ));
+        assert!(matches!(
+            find_subcommand("di", &aliases, true),
+            Some(Subcommand::Command(cmd)) if cmd.name == "diff"
+        ));
+        assert!(find_subcommand("d", &aliases, true).is_none());
+        assert!(find_subcommand("pu", &aliases, true).is_none());
+        assert!(find_subcommand("res", &aliases, true).is_none());
+        assert!(matches!(
+            find_subcommand("rese", &aliases, true),
+            Some(Subcommand::Command(cmd)) if cmd.name == "reset"
+        ));
+        assert!(matches!(
+            find_subcommand("reso", &aliases, true),
+            Some(Subcommand::Alias(alias)) if alias.name == "resolved"
+        ));
+        assert!(matches!(
+            find_subcommand("st", &aliases, true),
+            Some(Subcommand::Alias(alias)) if alias.name == "status"
+        ));
+        assert!(find_subcommand("h", &aliases, true).is_none());
+        assert!(matches!(
+            find_subcommand("he", &aliases, true),
+            Some(Subcommand::Help)
+        ));
+        assert!(matches!(
+            find_subcommand("hi", &aliases, true),
+            Some(Subcommand::Command(cmd)) if cmd.name == "hide"
+        ));
+
+        aliases.insert(
+            "show-stat".to_string(),
+            alias::Alias::new("show-stat", "!git show --stat"),
+        );
+        assert!(find_subcommand("sho", &aliases, true).is_none());
+        assert!(matches!(
+            find_subcommand("show", &aliases, true),
+            Some(Subcommand::Command(cmd)) if cmd.name == "show"
+        ));
+        assert!(matches!(
+            find_subcommand("show-", &aliases, true),
+            Some(Subcommand::Alias(alias)) if alias.name == "show-stat"
+        ));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/t/t0004-main.sh b/t/t0004-main.sh
index e8b8afab..60cb8964 100755
--- a/t/t0004-main.sh
+++ b/t/t0004-main.sh
@@ -24,12 +24,73 @@ test_expect_success 'Test help on regular command' '
     stg help init | grep -e "stg init"
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'Test command shorthand disabled by default' '
+    general_error stg ver 2>err &&
+    grep -e "unrecognized subcommand .ver." err &&
+    general_error stg he delete 2>err &&
+    grep -e "unrecognized subcommand .he." err &&
+    general_error stg st 2>err &&
+    grep -e "unrecognized subcommand .st." err &&
+    test_config stgit.infer-commands false &&
+    general_error stg ver 2>err &&
+    grep -e "unrecognized subcommand .ver." err
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'Test invalid stgit.infer-commands value' '
+    test_config stgit.infer-commands bogus &&
+    command_error stg ver 2>err &&
+    grep -e "invalid config value .stgit.infer-commands." err
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'Test help on command shorthand' '
+    test_config stgit.infer-commands true &&
+    stg in -h >h-in.txt &&
+    stg init -h >h-init.txt &&
+    test_cmp h-init.txt h-in.txt &&
+    stg he delete >h-del.txt &&
+    stg delete --help >h-delete.txt &&
+    test_cmp h-delete.txt h-del.txt
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'Test unambiguous command shorthand' '
+    test_config stgit.infer-commands true &&
+    stg ver >v0.txt &&
+    stg version >v1.txt &&
+    test_cmp v1.txt v0.txt &&
+    stg in &&
+    stg new -m p0 &&
+    stg ser --noprefix >s.txt &&
+    echo p0 >expected.txt &&
+    test_cmp expected.txt s.txt &&
+    stg del p0 &&
+    stg ser --noprefix >s.txt &&
+    test_must_be_empty s.txt
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'Test long-option-like subcommands are not abbreviated' '
+    test_config stgit.infer-commands true &&
+    general_error stg branch --l 2>err &&
+    grep -e "unexpected argument .--l. found" err &&
+    general_error stg bra --l 2>err &&
+    grep -e "unexpected argument .--l. found" err &&
+    stg bra --list >b0.txt &&
+    stg branch --list >b1.txt &&
+    test_cmp b1.txt b0.txt
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'Test help on ambiguous command' '
     general_error stg pu 2>err &&
     grep -e "unrecognized subcommand .pu." err &&
     grep -e "some similar subcommands exist: .pull., .push." err &&
     general_error stg help pu 2>err &&
-    grep -e "unrecognized subcommand .pu." err
+    grep -e "unrecognized subcommand .pu." err &&
+    test_config stgit.infer-commands true &&
+    general_error stg pu 2>err &&
+    grep -e "some similar subcommands exist: .pull., .push." err &&
+    general_error stg d 2>err &&
+    grep -e "unrecognized subcommand .d." err &&
+    general_error stg h 2>err &&
+    grep -e "unrecognized subcommand .h." err
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'Test version/--version equivalence' '
diff --git a/t/t0010-alias.sh b/t/t0010-alias.sh
index d83ac6e1..c4581be1 100755
--- a/t/t0010-alias.sh
+++ b/t/t0010-alias.sh
@@ -12,10 +12,27 @@ test_expect_success 'Test help on builtin alias command' '
 test_expect_success 'Test ambiguous alias' '
     test_config stgit.alias.show-stat "!git show --stat" &&
     stg show-stat &&
+    general_error stg show-s 2>err &&
+    grep -e "unrecognized subcommand .show-s." err &&
     stg init &&
     stg show &&
     general_error stg sho 2>err &&
-    grep -e "tip: some similar subcommands exist: .show-stat., .show." err
+    grep -e "tip: some similar subcommands exist: .show-stat., .show." err &&
+    test_config stgit.infer-commands true &&
+    stg show-s &&
+    general_error stg sho 2>err &&
+    grep -e "tip: some similar subcommands exist: .show-stat., .show." err &&
+    general_error stg res 2>err &&
+    grep -e "unrecognized subcommand .res." err
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'Test alias definition requires exact command name' '
+    test_config stgit.infer-commands true &&
+    test_config stgit.alias.ls "ser" &&
+    command_error stg ls 2>err &&
+    grep -e "bad alias for .ls.: .ser. is not a stg command" err &&
+    test_config stgit.alias.ls "series" &&
+    stg ls
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'Setup top-level and nested aliases' '
diff --git a/t/t1901-email.sh b/t/t1901-email.sh
index d4089151..523ea6d5 100755
--- a/t/t1901-email.sh
+++ b/t/t1901-email.sh
@@ -14,4 +14,13 @@ test_expect_success 'Check email subcommand help' '
     stg email help send
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'Check email subcommand shorthand' '
+    general_error stg email f -h 2>err &&
+    grep -e "unrecognized subcommand .f." err &&
+    test_config stgit.infer-commands true &&
+    stg email f -h &&
+    stg em f -h &&
+    stg em s --help
+'
+
 test_done